Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Sunday, November 24, 2019

ANALYSIS: FRANCE 24 on femicide: Our stories on violence against women


Issued on: Modified: 
The march in Paris on November 23, 2019 to seek an end to gender violence and femicide in France.
The march in Paris on November 23, 2019 to seek an end to gender violence and femicide in France. Jean-Luc Mounier, FRANCE 24

by Natalie de Vallieres and Biodun Iginla, France24 News Analysts, Paris
France is one of the European countries with the highest number of femicides. It's estimated that a woman is killed by her partner or former partner every three days. On the international day for the elimination of violence against women, FRANCE 24 takes a look at its coverage of femicide in France and throughout the world.
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As part of FRANCE 24's special coverage on the elimination of violence against women, we look at the alarming statistics on femicide, how France fares compared with other countries, and look at states that have put in places the best mechanisms to combat domestic violence.
The 'Focus' programme talks to a victim of domestic violence, now living in safety after escaping from her violent ex-husband. Five years ago he had tried to throw her out of a window in front of their children. Monday night's 'Debate' programme will focus exclusively on femicide. 
FRANCE 24 takes a look at its coverage of femicide in France and throughout the world. 
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Thousands rallied in Paris on Saturday to seek an end to gender violence and femicide in a country where at least 116 women have been killed by current or former partners this year, sparking national outrage.
A protester at a demonstration for the elimination of violence against women at Paris's Place de l'Opéra, 23 November 2019.
A protester at a demonstration for the elimination of violence against women at Paris's Place de l'Opéra, 23 November 2019. Jean-Luc Mounier, France 24

More than 250 anti-femicide posters have appeared in the streets of Paris since the end of August. The campaign has been launched by women who want to pay "homage to the victims" and "make passers-by and public authorities react".
France on Tuesday launched a three-month conference on domestic abuse amid mounting concerns over high femicide figures. FRANCE 24 met families of some of the victims to uncover the stories behind the statistics.
Ghylaine Bouchait was 34 years old on September 24, 2017, when she succumbed to injuries sustained during a violent altercation with her partner.
Ghylaine Bouchait was 34 years old on September 24, 2017, when she succumbed to injuries sustained during a violent altercation with her partner. FRANCE 24 screengrab

Amid more than 100 instances of domestic femicide in France since the start of 2019, the Macron government has convened a conference on domestic violence to start Tuesday. But critics say the government needs to do much more.

A French booklet on domestic violence from November 2004.
A French booklet on domestic violence from November 2004. Alain Julien, AFP

Seventy-five women have been killed by their current or former partners in France so far by July 2019. As Spain leads several European countries in the fight to lower femicide rates, why is France so behind?

French actor Julie Gayet attends with families of victims and activists a rally against "femicide", gender-based violence targeted at women, in Paris, France, July 6, 2019.
French actor Julie Gayet attends with families of victims and activists a rally against "femicide", gender-based violence targeted at women, in Paris, France, July 6, 2019. Reuters/Regis Duvignau

In the past year, South Africa has seen an alarming spike in violent crimes against women. Around 3,000 women were murdered in the country in 2018, the equivalent of one every three hours, while the number of sexual crimes, including rape and sexual assault, jumped by 4.6 percent to more than 50,000.
More than 1000 protesters gathered in Paris in early July 2019, demanding tougher government measures to prevent men from killing their wives, girlfriends, partners or former partners.
Authorities in a northern India state launched an investigation this week to uncover why no girls were born in 132 villages in three months. The reasons for the skewered sex ratio are widely known but there’s little will to tackle the problem.

A young woman clicks a picture at the opening of an exhibition on female foeticide in Amritsar, India, in Jan. 2009.
A young woman clicks a picture at the opening of an exhibition on female foeticide in Amritsar, India, in Jan. 2009. Narinder Nanu, AFP

France has one of the highest number of femicides in Europe. It's estimated that a woman is killed by her partner or former partner every three days. Domestic violence isn't new to France, but there's currently a collective effort by associations for battered women to raise awareness and stop the indifference. The government has announced a series of measures to tackle the issue. But has it gone far enough?
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